The local authority undertook a study looking at the size of bins in the district compared to those in Newcastle and Stoke-on-Trent.

But council bosses have now decided to stick with the status quo while it waits to see if a county wide waste strategy can be drawn up before it makes any significant changes.

A report from the council stated: “In 2017/18, SMDC recycling rate was 56 per cent which placed the council 30th in the national recycling league table of 345 local authorities.

“The best English local authority in 2017/18 at recycling was the East Riding of Yorkshire Council at 64 per cent.

“Options available to SMDC which should aid improvements to recycling performance, without making radical changes to services, include completing a review of those properties eligible to have a larger blue lidded bin.

Newcastle Borough Council's bins

"A review has not been undertaken for in excess of 12 years and whilst it is difficult to predict the outcome of the review, estimations conclude that a 25 per cent reduction in homes using a larger bin could increase the recycling rate from 56.09 per cent to 56.3 per cent or to 56.5 per cent based on a reduction of 50 per cent of homes staying eligible."

To help the council come to a conclusion on whether families should be able to keep their larger bins, the authority compared the recycling rates across the Moorlands to similar areas across the country.

Here's how different council's fared:

Local authority

Recycling rate

Waste Bins

Recycling Bins

Garden Waste

Staffordshire Moorlands

56 per cent

180 litre standard and 240l for larger households.

240l grey bin used as standard collecting cardboard, glass, cans and plastics. A reusable clear bag is used for paper and a sack for textiles.

240l brown bin collecting food and garden waste used as standard. Additional bins can be purchased for a one off fee.

Garden and food waste collected in 240l, service operates March - November only.

Residents in the Moorlands are pleased that larger households will be able to keep their blue-topped waste bins.

Bob Hart, chairman of Biddulph Valley North Residents' Association, said: "I appreciate what the council was thinking but I don't think it would encourage larger families to recycle because if they have babies with things like nappies they will have to go in the general waste bins.

"I don't think it would be a good idea to reduce the size of the bins and think, like when they started charging at the tips, people will worry about fly-tipping."

Staffordshire Moorlands wheelie bins (Image: Stoke Sentinel)

Dave Proudlove, of Knypersley, added: "I don't think a smaller bin would make much difference here and we recycle as a matter of course. I can't see messing about with the bins doing much and there are more important issues like fly-tipping.

"If you have a big family then it is natural there will be more waste so more people in a household and more waste generated."

Councillor Bill Cawley, of Leek, said: "I do think if we had the smaller blue bins then it would encourage more families to recycle.

"We have bags ourselves because we live in a terraced street and the bigger bins can cause an obstruction. I think to have the smaller bins would not be a problem."

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